McClellan named All-CHN first team
April 05, 2024 | Men's Hockey
Senior goaltender earns another accolade for his impressive season
MADISON, Wis. – Senior goaltender Kyle McClellan has been named All-CHN (Collegehockeynews.com) first team, the web site announced on Wednesday.
One of three Mike Richter Award finalists for national goaltender of the year, McClellan leads the nation with a .931 save percentage and seven shutouts. He also ranks second in the country with a 1.94 goals-against average and fourth with 24 victories.
The Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalist, Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten, HCA National Goaltender of the Month for December, Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off Most Outstanding Goaltender and a conference-best five-time Big Ten Star of the Week, McClellan began the season perfect, opening with shutouts in UW's first two games of the season to make him the first Badger in school history to record consecutive shutouts over the same opponent during a series. He posted back-to-back shutouts a second time with blankings over Air Force and Northeastern to help UW capture the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off.
The NCAA's current career leader with a .926 save percentage, McClellan allowed two goals or less in 26 of his 37 starts. He backstopped the Badgers to one of the best defenses in the nation – second in fewest goals allowed per game (2.03), third penalty-killing success rate (87.2 percent) and first in shutouts (eight).
McClellan produced an eight-game win streak (Dec. 1-Jan. 12) and a six-game win streak (Oct. 20-Nov. 4). During the six-game streak, the senior helped the Badgers sweep then-No. 17 Michigan Tech and then-No. 1 Minnesota on the road, before posting a home sweep over then-No. 11 Michigan.
The Manchester, Missouri, native's seven shutouts are good for second on the UW single-season list, one behind Brian Elliott's record of eight set in 2005-06. He also currently sits second in single-season goals-against average behind Elliott and third in single-season save percentage. Finally, his 24 wins share fifth in program history along with Vezina Trophy winner Jim Carey and UW Athletics Hall of Famer and 1990 NCAA Champion Duane Derksen.
CHN's staff, which includes professionals who have worked in journalism for decades, and who have covered college hockey for over 20 years, voted to decide each All-CHN team. The full list of All-CHN teams can be found here.
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